History of the Cupertino Alliance

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History

Background

The Cupertino Alliance can trace its lineage back to the 2018 Independent Economic Union. To a lesser extent, it can also he traced back to the 2019 North Atlantic Defense Union and the second incarnation for the Organisation of Active Micronations, are considered to be spiritual predecessors to the modern Cupertino Alliance.

Independent Economical Union

The IEU logo, the predecessor of the Cupertino Alliance.

The Independent Economical Union (IEU) was founded on 20 October 2018 by Piotr Harniakiewicz "to protect the freedom of economy." Furthermore, it also granted benefits to member nations, including free travel without a visa (Now the ÉtatsToronto program).[1][2][3] The first members were Nerdystan, Matachewan and Aenderia.

There were 2 parts in the IEU, those being the council and the court. The council consisted of 1 elected individual from each member nation of the IEU and to propose and pass legislation, which will affect all member nations. The court, on the other hand, handled intermicronational disputes between member nations as well as breaches of IEU legislation and the charter. It was presided by a head judge with 2 extra judges.[4]

The IEU is the unofficial predecessor of the Cupertino Alliance. It upheld many of the ideas and people that are in the Alliance today. The IEU played a major part in the Robertson Sea Conflict, but in January 2019, the activity significantly declined. 22 days later, a majority of the members departed the IEU, including Aenderia.[5] It was revived for a short period on 4 March by Brandon Mierzwa,[6] but ended-up falling back into inactivity about a week later.

An April Fools Joke

During the decline of the IEU, the Epic Union was founded on 10 March 2019 by Jayden Lycon as part of a planned 'joke'[7][8] on the Grand Unified Micronational (GUM), as Jayden had believed that the GUM had become a micronational organization that was exclusive and very harsh on the selection process for new members, which he believed would cause the GUM's eventual downfall.[9]

Jayden proceeded to tell the Aenderian people that Aenderia had been the first-ever micronation to join the EU (Epic Union, the organization's first name), replacing the United Kingdom's seat to the "EU", which was set to leave on 29 March 2019.[10] This confused many Aenderian citizens, considering during that time Aenderia was still largely a small micronation.[11] William Efton later explained that this was to 'poke fun' at large organizations, have a brand reputation and doesn't do much work, although both Jayden and Efton were both proponents of the European Union at the time, which was the organization that a majority, if not all, Aenderian citizens thought to be in the announcement.

"Accidental" Creation of the Alliance

The former 10 Cupertino Krone note, featuring Brandon Mierzwa.

The Epic Union stunt (dubbed "Operation North Macedonia") became a full-fledged idea of a brand new intermicronational organization. On 1 April 2019, the Cupertino Alliance was founded, with the initial members of the first phase of the alliance being Aenderia, Misberia, Bepistan, Cloverzem, Groponigën, and Matachewan.

The alliance was originally also planning to invite Flavia, however, they did not go through with these plans for unknown reasons.[12] The alliance would later include other nations, most notably the Somcowian Federation, to the alliance.

During the first phase, the alliance developed multiple agreements, including a Schengen-type visa-free travel agreement,[13] a unified banknote[14] and a defence treaty.[15] Furthermore, the alliance also resolved treaties between nation-states, including a conflict between Auvenum and Bepistan regarding the partition of White Island[16] and an extensive research study regarding a proposed bill in Groponigën regarding the Christchurch mosque shootings.[17]

There was a minor controversy when it was revealed that Groponigën never officially joined the Alliance, however, the Alliance decided not to negotiate with the Government of Groponigën choosing to just remove the Kingdom from the Alliance due to miscommunication between both parties.[18]

Months later, activity in the alliance plummeted due to more important work in other nations. Eventually, there were talks to the Misberian delegate about Lycon having the desire to close the alliance. A few days later, Jayden proposed a dissolution bill for the Cupertino Alliance and was passed. The dissolution voided all Cupertino Alliance projects and agreements, and remains of the Cupertino Krone were void. On 1 June 2019, the act was in effect, and the alliance was closed.[19] Though, on 7 July, Tony Sweigart attempted to revive the alliance.[20] A vote motioning the recreation was passed but was not implemented as no other micronation had joined the revived alliance.

Revival

Logo of the 69 Hour Session.
The Cupertino Alliance held their first 69 Hour Session, donating funds to the Canadian Red Cross.

With the anti-GUM sentiment in Aenderia stronger than ever, talks to reopen the Cupertino Alliance were presented to the House of Commons of Aenderia. The plan was to reopen the alliance by 28 January 2020, with the first meeting commencing on 1 February.[21] The act passed, and Efton invited Ponderosa Hills, Millania, and Misberia to the reopened alliance.[22] The following weeks saw the passing of many agreements, including the Windhoek Agreement[23] and the admission of Aenopia and Orientia on 24 February.[24] Also, the Alliance started the development of Cupertino Guides, revived the Informative Template Project, and started the development of a new site.[25][26] However, on 15 February, William Efton stepped down as Chair to pursue other projects in micronationalism but continued to stay in the Cupertino Alliance as a delegate for Aenderia. Efton chose Jayden Lycon as the deputy chair until elections can be held.[23][27] On 7 March, Misberia dissolved, therefore suspending their membership to the Cupertino Alliance.[28][29][30] On 23 March, Millania was expelled from the Alliance by a vote from Parliament due to inactivity.[31]

69 Hour Session

From 14 March 2020 till 17 March, the Cupertino Alliance held its first 69 Hour Session, with all delegates participating in a session to donate to the Canadian Red Cross.[32][33][34]

During the 69 Hour Session, the alliance voted on anthem submissions. One of the submissions granted to become an anthem was a video named "Is Jacking Off a Sport?". This resulted in backlash mainly from the Aenderian delegation which later voted to leave the alliance,[35][36] and the passing of the Parliamentary Practice Act in an attempt to be more formal. The withdrawal, which was planned on 1 April 2020 was later extended to 5 April to work out an agreement.[37] After a suggestion from Andy Eftin, Aenderia decided to rejoin the Cupertino Alliance if Di Du Dua Di became an anthem,[38][39] as well as a report showing how the alliance has attempted becoming more formal was made.[40][41] These requirements were later completed,[42] and on 5 April, an agreement was signed and ratified by both parties which suspended the withdrawal process.[43][44]

Rebuilding of the Alliance

The Cupertino Reference Centre on TinyCat on 14 April 2020.
Cupertino Alliance's video election graphics were the first in the community and were first used in the 2020 Ponderosa Hills general election.

Following the incident regarding the 69 Hour Session, the Alliance became more formal. Sessions were improving with the Parliamentary Practice act, programs were being completed, and general interest grew in the CA.

On 30 March 2020, the Cupertino Reference Centre opened on Discord[45] and TinyCat on 13 April.[46][47] Three days later, Millania rejoined the Alliance.[44][48] This followed both the admission of Caddia, Huasgurd, Wegmat, and Patchogue, all were admitted a couple days earlier. On 16 April 2020, the long-awaited Cupertino Earth Week Clean Up was postponed indefinitely at the advice of both Toronto Public Health and Public Health England due to COVID-19.[49][50]

On 18 April 2020, the Millanian delegate notified regarding an incident in Kayutsastan regarding independence. The Cupertino Alliance, alongside others, provided peacekeeping support and eventually got in touch with Tom Kap, the leader of the movement. Kap, Lycon, and Millan later attended a negotiation session, where the rebels surrendered and allowed Kayutsasan to rejoin Millania in return for full amnesty in Millania, a new serene republican government in Kayutsasan as well as other bargaining points.

On 7 May 2020, the Cupertino Electoral Supervisory Commission's Nintendo 64 electorial video graphics was released with the 2020 Ponderosa Hills election, becoming the first video election graphics in the community and replacing Canadian Broadcasting Corperation.[51][52] This received praise from not only member nations but as well as others who praised it on being very professional and official.[53][54]

On 8 May 2020, the Cupertino Alliance, as well as others, attended a constitutional convention in Hausgurd Union of the Crowns and drafted a new constitution based on the current Aenderian Constitution Act, 2020.[55][56] Later, New Port was dismissed from the Alliance due to the dissolution of the country.[57]

New Charter and Continued Success

The Cupertino Alliance Factbook was finished on 14 February 2021 to critical acclaim.

On 16 May 2020, the Cupertino Alliance worked on their new constitution to outline its governance in a single unified codified constitution, replacing several acts.[58] This was passed and fully ratified on 15 June 2020. The anthem fiasco was formally ended with the passing of the Anthems Act, making the Cupertino Alliance have no anthem.[59]

On 20 June 2020, various ideas from a Census to the redoing of the Earth Day event[60] were considered, both projected later in the future. Furthermore, the Cupertino Alliance language organization was formed on the idea of Sertor Valentinus in order to preserve near-extent languages.[61]

A Prime Minister (later Lieutenant Chair) position was established on 25 July 2020,[62] with Otto Gillespie Birch winning the office.[63] On 1 August 2020, the first Cupertino Alliance chair election was conducted between Lycon and Valentinus, with Lycon winning 11-2, and 1 abstain.

A surge in demand for membership applications in August 2020 resulted in applications taking more time as the Division of Membership Attainment was backed up, paving the way to the Membership (Reorganization) Act, which abolished the infamous 25 member cap as well as changed the process of membership, including requiring all applicants to go through an observer phase. The Regional Sessions Act was also passed during this time, creating the special ministry called regional ministries, allowing certain ministers to host sessions at times inconvenient to the Chair. The first European / African auxiliary session was held on 20 September 2020 at 3PM UTC or 11AM EDT while the first Asian / Oceanian auxiliary session was held on 25 September 2020 at 10AM UTC or 6AM EDT.

During the month of November, the period was marked with increased session length and session frequency. The month also saw a revival of various projects including the Cupertino Guide and Factbook by the Lycon government, intended to be finished near or after his resignation.

Post-Lycon

The Post-Lycon era commenced when Simon Reeve, the second Lieutenant Chair of the Alliance under Chairman Jayden Lycon was declared winner of the 2nd Cupertino Alliance chairmanship election in January 2021, later being inaugurated on 15 February 2021. Elected with the goals of program activity and GUM cooperation, the term started poorly, with the administration reaching a threat of a motion of no confidence for inactivity.

Work on the Cupertino Guide from last administration reached a milestone on May 2021 with the competition of Chapter 2, which later sparked tensions between the Grand Unified Micronational's GUM Guides. The tensions mainly consisted of MicroWiki's "license" to the GUM to host their own guides service.

In August 2021, Varuna Sriraya was declared winner of the 3rd Cupertino Alliance chairmanship election. During his chairmanship, MicroNear, an application that lists micronations, was acquired following the approval of an act of Parliament on 2 November of the same year.[64] 3 days following the acquisition, however, Varuna would resign as Chair following a motion of no confidence being put forward by delegates; he would by replaced by Tyler Mullins.

Mullins Administration

Carson Era

Note: This section will remain cursory until the period draws to a close.

References

  1. Harniakiewicz, Piotr and Lycon, Jayden (20 October 2018) First messages of the IEU
  2. Lycon, Jayden (16 January 2019) IEU Free Travel Clearance
  3. Lycon, Jayden (n.d.) Toronto Accords
  4. Harniakiewicz, Piotr (n.d.) IEU Charter
  5. Oakforrest, Milaw (22 January 2019) Aenderia pulls out of the IEU
  6. Mierzwa, Brandon (13 March 2019) Brandon revives the IEU
  7. Efton, William and Lycon, Jayden (11 March 2019) Planning the 2019 April Fools Prank
  8. Lycon, Jayden (n.d.) Operation: North Macedonia
  9. Efton, William (11 March 2019) Announcement of Operation North Macedonia
  10. Walker, Nigel (6 February 2019) Brexit timeline: events leading to the UK’s exit from the European Union
  11. Eftin, Andy and Randouler, Nicholas (12 March 2019) April Fools Joke on the EU
  12. Lycon, Jayden and Efton, William (12 March 2019) Nations planned to invite
  13. Lycon, Jayden (20 March 2019) TORONTO AGREEMENT ON FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT WITHIN CA MEMBER STATES,2019
  14. Lycon, Jayden (20 March 2019) RALEIGH AGREEMENT ON CURRENCY WITHIN CA MEMBER STATES, 2019
  15. Lycon, Jayden (20 March 2019) STOCKHOLM AGREEMENT ON DEFENCE WITHIN CA MEMBER STATES, 2019
  16. White, Calvin (18 May 2019) Auvenese Post: New Area Expansions & Compromise with Bepistan Cached
  17. Lycon, Jayden (March 2019) NEW ZEALAND INCIDENT AND RUMORED DISCORD PUNISHMENTS
  18. Oakforrest, Milaw and Lycon, Jayden (23 March 2019) Groponigën removed from the CA
  19. Lycon, Jayden (29 May 2019) ACT TO DISSOLVE THE CUPERTINO ALLIANCE
  20. Sweigart, Tony Von (7 July 2019) Tony Von Sweigart attempts to revive the Cupertino Alliance
  21. Efton, William (17 January 2020) Day 365 Act
  22. Efton, William (18 January 2020) Starting list of nations in CA
  23. 23.0 23.1 Lycon, Jayden (15 February 2020) Cupertino Gazette Issue 3
  24. Lycon, Jayden (24 February 2020) Cupertino Gazette Issue 4
  25. Government of the Aenderese Republic (19 February 2020) Introducing cupertinoalliance.ca
  26. Cupertino Alliance (5 April 2020) https://www.cupertinoalliance.ca/
  27. Efton, William and Lycon, Jayden (9 February 2020) Efton Resigns from Chair of the Cupertino Alliance
  28. Birch,Otto (7 March 2020) Twitter: "Yeah I disbanded Misberia"
  29. Birch, Otto (7 March 2020) Twitter: "Yeah we are dissolved"
  30. Birch, Otto (7 March 2020) Misberia will be leaving the CA
  31. Lycon, Jayden (23 March 2020) Cupertino Gazette Issue 8
  32. Lycon, Jayden (17 March 2020) Cupertino Gazette Issue 7
  33. Montan, Leon (15 March 2020) Cupertino Alliance holding 69 hour long Session
  34. Lycon, Jayden (22 March 2020) Cupertino Alliance donates to the Canadian Red Cross
  35. Eden, Haeden (23 March 2020) An Act to Leave the Cupertino Alliance, 2020
  36. Efton, William (27 March 2020) Referendum on Act 202015
  37. Efton, William (31 March 2020) Exit of Cupertino Extension Act, 2020
  38. Eftin, Andy and Efton, William (28 March 2020) Eftin's petition
  39. Efton, William (28 March 2020) Opinion poll on rejoining the Cupertino Alliance
  40. Efton, William (31 March 2020) Guidelines for Rejoining Cupertino Act, 2020
  41. Eden, Haeden and Eftin, Andy (29 March 2020) Eden and Eftin discussing mandating the Cupertino Alliance to produce a report
  42. Lycon, Jayden (3 April 2020)The Cupertino Framework
  43. Lycon, Jayden (4 April 2020) Suspension of Withdrawal to the Cupertino Alliance Act, 2020
  44. 44.0 44.1 Lycon, Jayden (4 April 2020)Tentative agreement reached with Aenderia; Millania rejoins the Alliance
  45. Lycon, Jayden (30 March 2020) Cupertino Reference Centre launched on Discord server; first Ministerial seal published
  46. Cupertino Reference Centre (13 April 2020) Cupertino Reference Centre on TinyCat
  47. Lycon, Jayden (11 April 2020) Launch of the Cupertino Reference Centre on TinyCat
  48. Lycon, Jayden (2 April 2020) Statement by the Chair regarding Millania
  49. Lycon, Jayden (16 April 2020) Chairmanship Order issued 16 April 2020
  50. Lycon, Jayden (19 April 2020) Earth Day event postponed; New Hanoi referendum soon; Millania and Kayutsastan
  51. Lycon, Jayden (7 May 2020) Pondo Election Results - FINAL
  52. Lycon, Jayden (7 May 2020) Final report on the 2020 Ponderosa Hills general election
  53. Lycon, Jayden (2 May 2020) Cupertino Alliance Project Nintendo 64 - Video Build v.082
  54. u/kazoosportacus (2 May 2020) r/micronations: Some election graphics I've been working for a few days on
  55. Peto, Joseph (8 May 2020) Meeting 1 of the Constitutional Convention
  56. Lycon, Jayden (8 May 2020) Tweet from 8 May 2020
  57. Lycon, Jayden (2 May 2020) AN ACT TO DISMISS THE REPUBLIC OF NEW PORT
  58. Cupertino Alliance (16 May 2020) Twitter: We're working on combining a majority of our governance and constituting...
  59. Lycon, Jayden (6 June 2020) Anthems Act
  60. Lycon, Jayden (20 June 2020) Future in regard to Earth Day event
  61. Lycon, Jayden (27 June 2020) Mandate for the Cupertino Language Org
  62. Lycon, Jayden (25 July 2020) An Act to Establish the Office of the PM
  63. Lycon, Jayden (4 August 2020) Otto Gillespie Birch nomination for PM
  64. "Cupertino Alliance completes acquisition of MicroNear". nacre.cupertinoalliance.ca. 5 November 2021. Retrieved 5 November 2021.